Borroloola Mob @ Sunrise

Borroloola Mob @ Sunrise

Featured Image: The ‘Borroloola Mob’ @ Sunrise Studio in Martin Place

Borroloola Mob @ Sunrise One of my most unusual assignments was delegated by my daughter Kirsty. Kirsty was Legal Advisor to the Northern Land Council in Darwin. Part of her ambit included the Borroloola Community from the South Western shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria. It’s about 1000km by road from Darwin; the last 700 of it is dirt. Kirsty was directing a Land Claims Appeal through the Supreme Court in Phillip Street. My role was to accompany the ‘mob’ from the Menzies Hotel in downtown Sydney to the Supreme Court. Kirsty had to be there earlier to prepare. It was a most interesting journey! We had socialised the night before so we knew one another. My mate Dave Hardy is in the two-tone horizontal striped jumper and blue baseball cap at the front of the picture. Dave was an Elder of the tribe but had been ‘in trouble’ before. He was a most intriguing character. Just after this photograph was taken we ran into my friend and acquaintance Hamish Gidley-Baird. Hamish had lived in Darwin for 6 years and had actually been to Borroloola. The indigenes feel very much at home although I don’t think any had ever been to Sydney before? We tried to arrange an NRL game the night before but unfortunately the home fixture was at Parramatta. It was a bridge too far. Progress was sluggish at times until Martin Place. I seem to have disappeared? Note the warm winter clothing! David Koch and the ‘Sunrise’ Team at the Channel Seven Studio in Martin Place were just finishing the morning news segment. It was 9:30am. There was instant recognition and the Borroloola Mob just piled into the studio. David Koch and the team were intrigued. To their great credit the Borroloola Mob were welcomed with open arms. The photo opportunity was too good to miss.